Alvarez, Orta, Varela and Delgado are accused of official oppression, but no further details were released. In addition, Varela and Delgado face charges of aggravated perjury and tampering with governmental records.

Huerta, an employee of Socorro since 1998, is accused of delivering of more than 5 pounds of marijuana.

On Tuesday, about 15 state troopers arrived at the police station to make the arrests and execute search warrants. Investigators could be seen carrying out computers and files. The arrests appeared to be part of a lengthy investigation.

Socorro spokesman David Garcia said that city officials began an internal investigation into the officers and dispatcher and that the officials won't take any action until they have the arrest affidavits.

Garcia said the city has plenty of officers and supervisors to handle the safety of residents, Garcia said.

"This is not a department-wide accusation; there are many good officers on duty today," Garcia said Wednesday. "This is not condemning the department. These are five people who are being investigated."

Garcia did not release the number of police officers for security reasons. According to an FBI report, the Socorro Police Department reported in 2011 that it had 27 officers and 12 civilian employees.

The arrests of the officers account for 15 percent of the police officers on the force.

"I'm not surprised by the Rangers' action," said city Rep. Maria Reyes. "Certain members of the police department have allowed (themselves) to be controlled and manipulated by a certain City Council member. I fear this manipulation is widely spread throughout the city, which may be evident by other recent arrests."

Reyes referred to the recent arrests of the town's public works director and another city employee on theft charges.

Reyes will urge the city manager to place an item on the next City Council agenda to take action against all city employees accused of criminal activity, she said.

"I hope this investigation by the Rangers on a few members of the police department do not taint the reputation of the hardworking men and women protecting our community," Reyes said.

Alvarez, who has been in and out of the police department in the past couple of years, was rehired by the city in July 2011 as lieutenant. He took over as the leader of the police department after the Police Chief Jaime Avalos went on medical leave in September 2010. Avalos continues to be absent from the department, and Garcia would not say whether he has been fired or is still employed.

Alvarez was involved in a previous internal investigation in 2008, when he was accused of dereliction of duty and prisoner abuse. He was investigated for allegedly using unnecessary force against Ricardo Landeros during an arrest. A grand jury declined to prosecute.

Most recently Delgado, who was hired as a police officer in 2008, was arrested by deputies in September on suspicion of violating a protective order.

Orta has a longer history of investigations against him.

In the past two years, he allegedly has been involved in controversies, including an incident between city Rep. Jesse Gandara Jr. and Sheriff's Office detectives in March 2011.

At the time, detectives were conducting an investigation into more than 200 driveways being built in Gandara's district as part of a city project paid with certificates of obligation.

Orta was accused of tampering with evidence after he allegedly removed a videotape from the patrol car that recorded Gandara's discussion with the sheriff's detectives and took it home, preventing it from becoming evidence.

The sergeant is also a target of the Sheriff's Office investigation into financial irregularities in Socorro that was made public in July.

According to an affidavit in support of a search warrant, city Rep. Mary Garcia, Gandara and Orta sought airfare reimbursement for a trip to Austin last year.

The affidavit said Gandara and Orta drove there and back and did not fly. It also says that Garcia flew there but returned with Gandara and Orta in a city-owned car.

The affidavit said Gandara and Orta were reimbursed $738 each for airfare and other expenses for the trip. Gandara returned $375. Orta returned $525.

In February, a former Socorro city employee who alleged that she was discriminated against and sexually harassed by Orta settled a lawsuit against the city of Socorro for $150,000.

Also, a former Socorro police lieutenant settled a suit against the city involving Orta for an undisclosed amount. He alleged he was retaliated against for reporting sexual harassment complaints against Orta.

In addition, Orta has been investigated internally several times on suspicion of violating department policies. Orta was hired as sergeant in December 2004.